UNOH Named #1 School in U.S. for Automotive Technicians

Posted on Monday, May 07, 2018

UNOH Students in Automotive Technology Program

The University of Northwestern Ohio’s Automotive Technology degree program has been ranked #1 in the country from the website: https://TheBestSchools.org. The rankings looked at each school’s accreditation, academic programs, types of courses offered, and faculty strength, along with school awards, rankings, and reputation. Below is an excerpt from the article posted on their website:

Most of us own and depend on cars. Some of us are passionate about cars, possessing an intimate knowledge of their many parts and how to repair them. The rest of us only learn about how our cars work when they break down, and the auto shop tells us that we need to replace something called a “timing belt.”

It used to be the case that automotive repair was straightforward enough that many a “shade tree” mechanic was able to maintain their own vehicle for years and years. But cars, like everything else, have become increasingly more complicated, and the knowledge required for their repair and maintenance has become increasingly more specialized.

Wondering how to become a mechanic and work with cars for a living? The list that follows ranks the top 20 colleges and universities offering Automotive Mechanics programs. All of these schools offer high-quality technical educations that will help get you qualified to work in the automotive service industry.

Some have more to offer than others, such as 4-year degree programs, combined majors that incorporate business education (in case you want to get into the business of automotive service, and not just the technical practice), unique program specializations, and a vibrant student life.

ASE and NATEF certification

ASE is the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, an independent, non-profit organization that seeks to ensure mechanics are trained to the best of their abilities, and offering the highest quality, and safest, service possible. They do so by offering certification in a multitude of areas of general and special knowledge through exams, as well as “Master” certification if you pass enough exams in a series.

Wondering how to become a mechanic in automotive services? First, you need to be ASE certified. While it is not required by law to for a mechanic to be ASE certified, plenty of shops will not hire mechanics who are not, and often additional ASE certification affords you additional career advancement opportunities. Most of the universities on this list present a curriculum that incorporates ASE certification practices and standards; all of them will prepare you for the ASE exams, and will encourage you to take them as soon as possible.

Additionally, NATEF, the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation, a related organization, accredits some of the programs ranked here with a specialized accreditation. But are NATEF accredited programs always better? Not necessarily. It depends on what you are looking for in terms of program specialization, as well as university benefits.

Ultimately, what matters is that you are getting the experience you desire, the education you need, and ASE certification, which is something you have to do separately from your program. So, NATEF accreditation is worth considering, and has been noted on each school’s profile, but if a school does not have NATEF accreditation, this shouldn’t necessarily be a deal breaker.

Auto Mechanic degree program ranking guidelines:

We selected the degree programs based on the quality of the program, types of courses offered, and faculty strength, as well as school awards, rankings, and reputation.

#1 – University of Northwestern Ohio:

Located in Lima, Ohio, UNOH is a private university that offers numerous degree and non-degree options for studying automotive mechanics, with plenty of paths for specialization.

UNOH combines the benefit of small class sizes, skilled instructors, state-of-the-art technology, and fast and focused six-week class sessions to provide a thorough educational experience. The curriculum is centered on ASE certification and is taught by Master ASE-certified instructors. Also, the school offers the unique options to focus on high performance technology, and alternative fuels technologies.

Among its degree programs, UNOH offers a 2+2 B.S. degree that combines auto mechanic school education with business education, with the goal of preparing students to manage or even own an automotive repair business. The College of Applied Technologies claims a high placement rate for its students, and is dedicated to ensuring the students secure the careers they are pursuing, through its Career Services resource program, and through networking with numerous professional organizations in the field.

There are numerous automotive clubs on campus for students to socialize, network, share their knowledge, and test their skills, including a racing team. Unlike most institutions, UNOH provides the tools that are necessary for your technical studies.

The University of Northwestern Ohio is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), and its automotive programs are accredited by NATEF.

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